The Classic Cadillac Forum Discussion, Help bring her back to life. My 74 got delivered today. in Past Cadillac Vehicle Discussion; Hey Dave,
What's first on your &quot;to do list&quot; this spring?
Can't wait to get mine home, then I'll be ...

Re: Help bring her back to life. My 74 got delivered today.

First is to relocate the two new power steering hoses from the drivers seat to the power steering pump so I can drive it out of the garage.

The previous owner had started a really botched attempt at repairing the rot under the rear window. I have re-done it with fiberglass and Bondo good enough to remount the rear window. I know that isn't the right way to do it but between working on a very limited budget and having no place to do the work other than an outdoor parking lot it is the best I could do.
Now that my renewed health has allowed me several months of full time employment and my funds are up I am having second thoughts on it. I still have a fair amount of work to do on getting the body surface to be as straight and smooth as the window mount and channel came out. I have to decide if I want to tear it all out and cut out all the work I did and weld in new, or continue with the original plan and just get it done good enough to enjoy for a few years and do it then.(Which is what I am leaning toward.) My overall goal is To build it to a decent driver quality car. It will be driven a couple thousand miles a year and stored inside I don't want to spend a fortune on it.

Re: Help bring her back to life. My 74 got delivered today.

Drove to 3 different parts stores to find a hose and 2 clamps. 3 strikes!

This is what I handed them.

2 of the three came back with a piece of fuel line.

The 3rd ask me if it was fuel line, I said no 400 PSI is not fuel line and that it was power steering. He didn't have any. I asked for a center pull hose clamp. Had to explain what one was to him.(None of the three knew what one was, and none sold them)

He half laughed and said. "A hose clamp to hold a P steering line, I don't think so." I told him it has held for 37 years and 95,000 miles, it can't be too inferior a set-up!

So I cleaned up my old parts and re-installed them. The other hose was bad, this one looked OK and was made in 1996 so I hope it will do for now.

Re: Help bring her back to life. My 74 got delivered today.

Glad to see it's moving along. Did you get your junkyard finds installed? (trunk, etc)

Nope, they are stowed for the time being until I decide on who will be doing the body work.

Originally Posted by cadillac kevin

Those wires look sketchy. I'd upgrade the battery terminal wiring with some 4 gauge welding cable. Its nice and thick gauge, has a thick jacket made for exterior use, and it's cheap

I got the fuseable links replaced and I had a new battery cable and shut off, and small patch cable I made up just that way installed.

After all was installed I started it up and cycled the steering and filled fluid. Was fun to see her idling again. I need to do a lower radiator hose next. (At least I hope that is what I need.) Small leak and like everything else rubber on the car it looks shot!

Dave, how hard is it to bleed the power steering pump? I need to replace mine (it is weeping from the casing down onto the engine crossmember and I don't want to drive it like that). I can do the installation, but my dad said it is very hard to bleed them because until you finish bleeding the system, it is like turning back and forth with no P.S.

Re: Help bring her back to life. My 74 got delivered today.

Hi Dave, A long time since the last time I entered the forum but now Iīm glad to see you are making progress. Iīm sure it has been a pleasure seeing Sally running again. Itīs great you got the body parts to substitute the damaged ones. BTW, we can not see these pics as they were moved or deleted.

Iīm pleased to see your work in progress and looking forward to see new updates

Re: Help bring her back to life. My 74 got delivered today.

Originally Posted by cadillac kevin

Dave, how hard is it to bleed the power steering pump? I need to replace mine (it is weeping from the casing down onto the engine crossmember and I don't want to drive it like that). I can do the installation, but my dad said it is very hard to bleed them because until you finish bleeding the system, it is like turning back and forth with no P.S.

I didn't really bleed mine. I replaced the hose filled it up and it turned side to side easily from the start. Just kept going lock to lock and refilling until it stayed level. It may be harder if you replace the pump or the steering head unit? I still had a lot of fluid left in system I suppose.

Originally Posted by CADforce69

Hi Dave, A long time since the last time I entered the forum but now Iīm glad to see you are making progress. Iīm sure it has been a pleasure seeing Sally running again. Itīs great you got the body parts to substitute the damaged ones. BTW, we can not see these pics as they were moved or deleted.

Iīm pleased to see your work in progress and looking forward to see new updates

Thanks Rueben, Feels good to be picking away at it again.
I have been living like a monk lately so the bank fund is getting replenished. I am trying to save enough to have the body done. I probably have enough already but have some more "soft parts" to replace before I feel like driving around for estimates.

I am really getting sick of Photobucket!
Every time you do anything to your album half of your links vanish! I am looking at other services and hoping to find a better way. Couldn't be a worse one! Why is it so hard to attach the link to the photo without regard for what is in the album before it!

Originally Posted by greencadillacmatt

Buuuuuumpity Bump Bump!

I don't know what it is...?
Ever since I met you, I have this irresistible urge to just let my car sit and age a few years like a fine wine.

Re: Help bring her back to life. My 74 got delivered today.

You donīt even have to create an account. Itīs 5 years since Iīm using it and never have had any problem. You just upload your images from computer, get the codes and paste them in the post. Thatīs all.